Interconnected screens for vibratory separators

ABSTRACT

Interconnectible screen assemblies for vibratory separators or shale shakers and methods for manipulating such screen assemblies which, in certain aspects, include a first screen assembly and a second screen assembly positioning at least a portion of the first screen assembly with respect to screen assembly holding apparatus, connecting a second screen assembly to the first screen assembly with at least one pin projecting from the first screen assembly into a corresponding recess of the second screen assembly, and moving the first screen assembly and the second screen assembly together.

RELATED APPLICATION

This is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/359,733 filed Feb. 2,2003 incorporated fully herein for all purposes and from which thepresent invention claims priority under the Patent Laws.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field Of The Invention

The present invention is directed to screen assemblies for vibratoryseparators and shale shakers and to methods of mounting them within andremoving them from such separators and shakers.

2. Description of Related Art

The prior art discloses a variety of screen assembly mounting structuresfor holding screen assemblies in position. In many instances screenassemblies are positioned sequentially on or within mounting structuresof a vibratory separator or shale shaker. For example, many suchapparatuses have spaced apart channels into which screen assemblies areinserted one after the other and from which they are removedsequentially one at a time. Often removal of these screen assemblies canbe difficult, particularly the removal of those farthest away from aninsertion end of the mounting structure or fluid exit end of a supportdeck.

There has long been a need, recognized by the present inventors, forscreen assemblies that are easily positionable on or within andremovable from mounting structure within a separator or shaker. Therehas long been a need for such screen assemblies which do not require theindividual removal of separate screen assemblies one at a time.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention, in certain embodiments, discloses systems andmethods for positioning screen assemblies on or within screen mountingstructures of vibratory separators or shale shakers and for facilitatingthe removal of screen assemblies from vibratory separators. In certainaspects, systems according to the present invention include screenassemblies with complimentary mating structure and/or apparatus thatinterconnects adjacent screen assemblies on or within separator orshaker screen mounting structure to facilitate their removal from themounting structure. In certain particular aspects the mounting structureis a channel structure, including but not limited to, “C” or “U” channelmounts In other aspects, screens are positioned on a support deck andappropriate holding or wedging structure or devices are use to holdscreen assemblies in place.

In certain embodiments adjacent screen assemblies are provided withreleasable meshing, interconnecting, or interlocking parts so thatremoval of one of the screen assemblies results in the removal of one ormore other interconnected screen assemblies from the mounting structure.In one particular aspect a first screen assembly has one or morespaced-apart lips and an adjacent screen assembly has one or morecorresponding lips which are movable to interlock with the lip(s) of thefirst screen. In other aspects a first screen assembly has one or morerecesses sized and configured for releasably holding correspondingprojection(s) of a second adjacent screen assembly to releasably connectthe two screen assemblies.

It is within the scope of the present invention to use releasablycooperating hook-and-loop material [e.g. VELCRO (Trademark) material]with or instead of any interconnecting or interlocking structureaccording to the present invention. In other embodiments a plug or pinextends into holes in two adjacent screens to releasably hold thescreens together; or a plug or pin end which is an integral part of onescreen assembly projects into a corresponding hole in an adjacent screenassembly to releasably secure the two screen assemblies together. In oneparticular aspect one or more movable VELCRO (Trademark) straps orpieces on one screen are releasably attached to one or morecorresponding pieces of such material on an adjacent screen toreleasably hold the two screens together.

It is, therefore, an object of at least certain preferred embodiments ofthe present invention to provide:

New, useful, unique, efficient, non-obvious systems and methods forreleasably mounting screen assemblies in vibratory separators;

Such systems and methods which include interconnection of adjacentscreen assemblies to enhance their stability on or within mountingstructure and/or to facilitate their easy removal from such structure;

Such systems and methods that include releasable interlocking structureor apparatus for releasably holding adjacent screen assemblies togetherin a vibratory separator or shale shaker;

Such systems and methods that provide an enhanced sealing effect betweenadjacent screen assemblies; and

Such systems and methods which provide correct foolproof positioning ofscreen assemblies in vibratory separators or shale shakers with noundesirable space between screen assemblies.

The present invention recognizes and addresses the previously-mentionedproblems and long-felt needs and provides a solution to those problemsand a satisfactory meeting of those needs in its various possibleembodiments and equivalents thereof. To one of skill in this art who hasthe benefits of this invention's realizations, teachings, disclosures,and suggestions, other purposes and advantages will be appreciated fromthe following description of preferred embodiments, given for thepurpose of disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. The detail in these descriptions is not intended to thwartthis patent's object to claim this invention no matter how others maylater disguise it by variations in form or additions of furtherimprovements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more particular description of certain embodiments of the inventionmay be had by references to the embodiments which are shown in thedrawings which form a part of this specification.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a screen assembly according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2A shows a step in the interconnection of two screen assemblies asin FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B shows the two screen assemblies of FIG. 2A connected.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of screen assemblies according tothe present invention.

FIGS. 4A-4D show connection structures according to the presentinvention for screen assemblies according to the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a screen assembly according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 5B is an enlargement of parts of the screen assemblies of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6 is a top view of screen assemblies according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of parts of screen assemblies according tothe present invention.

FIG. 8A is an exploded view of a screen assembly according to thepresent invention.

FIGS. 8B and 8C are cross-section views of parts of two screenassemblies as in FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8D is a partial cross-section view of a screen assembly accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of two screen assemblies according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 9B is a bottom view of one of the screen assemblies of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 9C is a top view of one of the screen assemblies of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of two screen assemblies according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 10B is a side cross-section view of the screen assemblies of FIG.10A.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of screen assemblies according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 is a top view of connection pins for connecting screenassemblies according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a screen assembly according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of screen assemblies according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of a prior art support for screening materialfor a screen assembly.

FIG. 16 is a side cross-section view showing connecting according to thepresent invention of two screen assemblies as in FIG. 15.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS PREFERRED AT THE TIME OF FILING FOR THISPATENT

FIG. 1 shows schematically a screen assembly 10 according to the presentinvention for a vibratory separator or shale shaker which has a supportor frame 12 with screening material 14. It is to be understood that itis within the scope of the present invention for side and/or crossmembers of the support or frame 12 to be like any such known support orframe members, including but not limited to, those of supports andframes in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,417,793; 5,417,859; 5,417,858; 6,443,310;6,439,392 and in the prior art cited therein. According to the presentinvention end members 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the frame 12 have lips 21 and22 projecting therefrom. Each lip has a vertical portion (portions 16 a,17 a and 18 a shows in FIG. 1) connected to a horizontal portion(portions 16 b, 17 b, and 18 b shown in FIG. 1). Such portions can beadded to, secured to or formed integrally of any suitable known supportor frame member to effect a frame or support according to the presentinvention. Alternatively, the lips may be generally curved with noportion at an abrupt angle to the other.

It is to be understood that the screening material 14 may be any knownscreening material of single or multiple layers of any known material[e.g. metal, metal alloy (e.g., brass, bronze) plastic, fiberglass,PTFE, composite) and may extend over an entire upper surface of thesupport or frame 12, with multiple layers fused, sewed, bonded, adhered,sintered, welded, and/or glued together at discrete points, along lines,and/or across substantially the entire surface area of the screeningmaterial.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B the screen assembly 10 can be interconnectedwith a similar screen assembly 30 by juxtaposing the screen assembliesas shown in FIG. 2A and then moving them into position with respect toeach other as shown in FIG. 2B with lips 16 and a corresponding lip ofthe screen assembly 30 (not shown) interengaging each other and lips 17and a corresponding lip of the screen assembly 30 (not shown)interengaging each other. The screen assembly 30 has lips 36 and 37(like the lips 16, 36 of the screen assembly 10) which are visible inthe views of FIGS. 2A and 2B and lips not shown like the lips 18, 19.

With corresponding lips engaged as in FIG. 2B, moving the screenassembly 30 results in moving of the screen assembly 10 so that, whenthe screen assemblies are positioned on a support deck or in a mountingstructure of a separator or shaker, pulling on the screen assemblyclosest to an end of the shaker or separator or closest to an entryinsertion end of mounting structure results in pulling the screenassembly that is connected to the screen assembly being pulled. Prior toemplacement of or insertion of a second screen assembly according to thepresent invention (like the screen assembly 30), when a first screenassembly according to the present invention is either wholly orpartially emplaced on or inserted into mounting structure, the secondscreen assembly is connected to the first screen assembly and pushing onthe second screen assembly pushes the first screen assembly further ontoa deck or into mounting structure while the first screen assemblyremains connected to the second screen assembly. The second screenassembly is then moved to its desired position on the deck or within themounting structure.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show screen assemblies according to the presentinvention with different engaging lip configurations. A screen assembly40 shown in FIG. 3A has engaging lips 46, 47, 48 and 49 (like the lips16-19, FIG. 1) but which have a greater linear extent so that, when twosimilar screen assemblies are connected (as are the two screenassemblies in FIG. 2B) there is little or no gap between a portion 46 aof the lip 46 and an adjacent portion of an adjacent lip that isengaging the lip 47. Two screen assemblies like the screen assembly 40may be connected by aligning lips of the two screen assemblies andsliding them together so that corresponding lips engage each other; or,if the lips are made of sufficiently flexible material, the lips can beflexed and moved together to effect desired interengagement.

FIG. 3B shows a screen assembly 41 with lips 42, 43, 44 and 45 (likelips of the screen assemblies of FIG. 1 and 3A) but which has aninclined edge, e.g. 42 a, 43 a, on each lip with sufficient spacetherebetween so that two screens with such lips can be connected eitherby aligning lips and sliding screens together or by manipulating twosuch screens as shown in FIG. 2A. Frames 40 a and 41 a, respectively,may be like any of the supports or frames 12, FIG. 1; and any screeningmaterial, like any of the screening material 14, FIG. 1, may be used onthe screening assemblies 40 and 41.

FIG. 4A shows the interengagement of two lips 16 e, 16 f (like the lips16 and 17, respectively, FIG. 1) of screen assemblies 16 g, 16 h,respectively (shown partially). In use, the lip 16 e may be moved toabut the screen assembly 16 h and/or the lip 16 f may abut the screenassembly 16 g. To remove such screen assemblies from a screen assemblymounting structure or deck, pulling on the screen assembly 16 g brings avertical portion 16 i of the lip 16 e into contact with a verticalportion 16 j of the lip 16 f so that pulling the screen assembly 16 gresults in pulling of the screen assembly 16 h.

FIG. 4B illustrates optional seal members 11 a, 11 b, 13 a, 13 b, 15 a,and 15 b which may be used on the lips and screen assemblies of FIG. 4A(and which may, according to the present invention, be used on any lipor lip portion or screen assembly part of a screen assembly according tothe present invention). Any known seal or gasket material may be usedfor any of these seals including, but not limited to, metal, plastic,rubber, fiberglass, PTFE, and composite materials. The seals may bepositioned so that a seal is connected to part of a lip or screenassembly and touches an opposing part of a lip or screen assembly (e.g.seals 11 a, 15 b, 15 a, 11 b) or seals can be positioned so that oneseal contacts another seal (e.g. seals 13 a, 13 b). Seals may bediscrete seal portions and parts and there may be, in certain aspectsaccording to the present invention, a plurality of adjacent and/orspaced-apart seals; or a seal may extend along and completely cover orencompass an entire edge of a lip or an entire gap or interface areabetween parts. FIG. 4C shows seals 15 c, 15 d on end edges 16 k, 16 m oflips 16 e, 16 f.

FIG. 4D shows alternative embodiments 16 p, 16 r, for screen assemblies16 s, 16 t which are like lips 16 e, 16 f (FIG. 4A), but which havehorizontal portions 16 v, 16 w (horizontal as viewed in FIG. 4D) whichprovide additional interengaging portions for the lips. Any lip of anyscreen assembly according to the present invention may have portionslike the portions 16 v, 16 w.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show screen assemblies 50 a and 50 b according to thepresent invention, each of which has a frame 51 a, 51 b, respectively,with screening material 52 a, 52 b, respectively secured thereto andexposed within a plurality of frame openings 53 a, 53 b, respectively.Each frame 51 a, 51 b has a recess 54 a, 54 b, respectively, forreceiving and holding a corresponding connection member 55 a, 55 b,respectively. The two screen assemblies 50 a and 50 b are connectedtogether by sliding the connection member 55 b into the recess 54 a. Thescreen assemblies 50 a, 50 b and their parts (as with any screenassemblies according to the present invention) may be made of anymaterials mentioned above for the items of FIGS. 1-4D.

FIG. 6 shows screen assemblies 60 a, 60 b according to the presentinvention each of which has a frame 62 a, 62 b (which may be like anysupport or frame of the screen assemblies of FIGS. 1-5A) with screeningmaterial 64 a, 64 b, respectively, which may be like any screeningmaterial described herein for any screen assembly according to thepresent invention. Each screen assembly 60 a, 60 b, has a portion ofreleasably cooperating hook-and-loop fastener material 61 a, 61 b,respectively, [e.g. VELCRO (trademark) material] to which is releasablyattachable a piece of corresponding releasably cooperating fastenermaterial 65 to releasably connect the two screen assemblies 60 a, 60 btogether. Each of the screen assemblies 60 a, 60 b may also have anyscreen assembly interconnection apparatus and/or structure disclosedherein. The material 65 is shown as extending over almost all of aninterface between the two screen assemblies 60 a, 60 b; but it is withinthe scope of this invention to use a similar piece of such material,multiple spaced-apart pieces, or one or more pieces to completely coverthe interface and such material may also serve to close off theinterface so nothing can flow between the screen assemblies (and suchmaterial may be used with any screen assemblies according to the presentinvention). The material shown in FIG. 6 may be used on the top and/oron the bottom of adjacent screen assemblies.

FIG. 7 shows the screen assemblies 50 a, 50 b of FIG. 5A with movablestraps 70 of releasably cooperating fastener material on the screenassembly 50 a which are movable to contact and cooperate with amounts 71of such material in corresponding positions on the screen assembly 50 bto releasably connect the two screen assemblies together. One, two,three, four or more of these straps may be used on any screen assemblyaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 8A-8C show a screen assembly 80 which is similar to thosedisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,392 issued Aug. 27, 2002 (incorporatedfully herein for all purposes); but which has screen interconnectionstructures at both ends of the screen assembly so that two adjacentscreen assemblies 80 may be interconnected for movement (pushing,pulling) with respect to screen mounting structure of a separator orshaker. The screen assembly 80 has a frame 84 on which are mounted andsecured, optionally, a perforated plate 85, and one, two, three, or morelayers 81, 82, 83 of screening material (which may be any screeningmaterial disclosed herein, including, but not limited to the screeningmaterial 14, FIG. 1, and its various aspects and embodiments). Any frameor support members disclosed or described herein may be used for themembers of the frame 82 and any support or plate may be used for theoptional perforated plate 85. The frame 84 has a connector 86 at one endand corresponding connection structure 87 at the other end. Theconnector 86 has a body 86 a with a lip 86 b, an opening 86 c, and aninner space 86 d. The connector structure 87 has a body 87 a with a lip87 b that is sized and configured for insertion into and through anopening 86 c. As with any connection structure disclosed herein, theconnector 86 and the connection structure 87 may be made of the samematerial as the frame 84 or of different material and be connected to orformed integrally of the frame 84.

FIG. 8B shows the lip 87 b engaged with the connector 86 and projectinginto the space 86 d. FIG. 8D shows an alternative embodiment 86 e forthe connector 86 in which an opening 86 f is larger than the opening 86c to facilitate insertion of a lip 87 b. according to the presentinvention

FIGS. 9A and 9B show screen assemblies 90 according to the presentinvention which are like screen assemblies disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,443,310 issued Sep. 3, 2002 (and incorporated fully herein for allpurposes); but which have downwardly projecting pins 92 projecting downfrom a bottom of a screen side 93 which are sized and configured forreleasable receipt within corresponding recesses 94 in a top of a screenside 95. One, two, three, four or more pins 92 with correspondingrecesses 94 may be used (and may be used on any screen assemblydisclosed herein according to the present invention) to provide forinterconnection of two screen assemblies. Screening material 96 onframes 97 is like the screening material 14, FIG. 1.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show screen assemblies 100 according to the presentinvention each of which has a side 102 with one, two, three (or more)downwardly projecting pins 103 which are received and releasably held incorresponding interior recesses 104 in a side 105. Screening material106 on frames 107 is like the screening material 14, FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 shows schematically screen assemblies 110 (each shown partially)with end members having one, two, three or more projecting pins 112 onone end 113 thereof and an opposing end 115 thereof having correspondingholes 116 for releasably receiving the pins 112. The pins 112 may havelaterally projecting or “barbed” portions 117 to facilitate holding ofthe pins 112 within the holes 116. The pins 112 may be connected to orformed integrally of the screen assemblies 110; or, as illustrated inFIG. 12, separate separable pins 112 a may be used with screenassemblies both ends of which have holes like the holes 116, accordingto the present invention. Barbed portions 117 may be deleted and thepins held in place with a friction fit and/or adhesive or glue. Insteadof pins like the pins 112 or 112 a, bolts, screws, or nut/boltcombinations may be used to connect screens together.

It is within the scope of this invention to provide a screen assembly(like any disclosed or referred to herein) with one or more pins likethe pins 92 or the pins 103 which are positioned so that the pin(s) arereceived within a corresponding hole or recess in a basket, supportdeck, or screen assembly mounting structure to provide for correctpositioning of a screen assembly and/or to stabilize a screen assemblyduring positioning and during separator or shaker operation. The pin(s)may have a uniform diameter or they may be tapered and correspondinglytapered holes or recesses may be used.

FIG. 13 shows an end 131 of a screen assembly 130 according to thepresent invention which has two slots 132 therethrough for receiving apart of a tool insertable therein to facilitate movement of the screenassembly with respect to a support deck or mounting structure.Alternatively, pins may be used in the slots 132 (like the pins of FIG.12).

FIG. 14 shows schematically and partially two screen assemblies 140according to the present invention which have at a first end 141 amountsof releasably cooperating fastener material 142 and 143 and at anotherend 144 corresponding amounts of such material 145 and 146 to releasablyconnect the screen assemblies together. The amounts 142 and 145 ofmaterial may also serve to close off and/or seal the interface betweentwo screen assemblies 140 placed end-to-end in or on separator or shakermounting structure.

It is to be understood that it is within the scope of the presentinvention for any screen assembly according to the present inventiondisclosed herein to have the connection structure and/or materialdisclosed in FIGS. 11-14.

FIG. 15 shows a prior art tubular frame F for a screen assembly whichhas ends E, sides S, and crossmembers C. FIG. 16 shows partiallyadjacent screen assemblies 160 according to the present invention eachwith a frame 162 like the frame F with screening material 164 (like thescreening material 14, FIG. 1) on the frame 162. A clip 165 engagesportions of frame end members of each adjacent frame 162 and releasablyholds together the two screen assemblies 160 so that movement (pulling,pushing) of one results in corresponding movement of the other, e.g.,with respect to (and onto, into or out of) screen assembly mountingstructure or support deck of a separator or shaker. The clips 165 may bemade of any suitable material, including any of those mentioned hereinfor screen assemblies or parts thereof.

The present invention, therefore, in at least certain aspects orembodiments, provides a method for manipulating a first screen assemblyand a second screen assembly with respect to a screen assembly holdingapparatus of a vibratory separator (e.g., but not limited to a shaleshaker) into or onto which the screen assemblies are mountable, themethod including positioning at least a portion of a first screenassembly with respect to screen assembly holding apparatus of avibratory separator, connecting a second screen assembly to the firstscreen assembly, and moving the first screen assembly and the secondscreen assembly together with respect to the screen assembly holdingapparatus. Such a method may include one or some (in any possiblecombination) of the following: wherein first and second screenassemblies are insertable into the screen assembly holding apparatus andthe method further includes moving the first screen assembly to insertthe first screen assembly and the second screen assembly (or partsthereof) into the screen assembly holding apparatus; moving the firstscreen assembly to remove both the first screen assembly and the secondscreen assembly (or part thereof) from the screen assembly holdingapparatus; wherein the screen assembly holding apparatus includes asupport deck and the first and second screen assemblies are emplaceableon the support deck, the method further includes moving the first screenassembly to move together the first screen assembly and the secondscreen assembly on or onto the support deck; moving the first screenassembly to remove the first screen assembly from the support deck andto move all or at least a portion of the second screen assembly tofacilitate removal of the second screen assembly from the support deck;removing the first screen assembly from the screen assembly holdingapparatus and thereby pulling the second screen assembly with respect tothe screen assembly holding apparatus with the first screen assembly tofacilitate removal of the second screen assembly from screen assemblyholding apparatus; wherein the vibratory separator is a shale shaker forprocessing drilling fluid with solids entrained therein; wherein thefirst screen assembly and the second screen assembly each haveinterconnection apparatus thereon for releasably interconnecting thefirst screen assembly with the second screen assembly; wherein theinterconnection apparatus includes at least one lip on each screenassembly, the at least one lip configured and positioned for engagementby a corresponding adjacent lip to releasably interconnect the screenassemblies, the method further includes engaging the at least one lip onthe first screen assembly with the at least one lip on the second screenassembly to releasably connect the screen assemblies together; whereineach lip has at least one seal apparatus thereon for sealing aninterface between the at least one lip of the first screen assembly andthe at least one lip of the second screen assembly, or for sealing alip/screen assembly interface; wherein the at least one lip on the firstscreen assembly is two spaced-apart lips thereon and the at least onelip on the second screen assembly is two corresponding spaced-apart lipsthereon; wherein each lip has a length, each lip is connected to a sideof a screen assembly that has a length, the lengths of the sides of thescreen assemblies being substantially equal, and a combined length ofadjacent lips upon interconnection of the two screen assemblies issubstantially equal to the length of one of said sides of the screenassemblies; wherein the lips of the screen assemblies are sized so thatupon interengagement of the lips of the two screen assemblies there is agap between the lips; wherein the lips of the screen assemblies aresized so that upon interengagement of the lips of the two screenassemblies there is a no gap or almost no gap between the lips; whereinthe interconnection apparatus includes at least one piece of releasablycooperating fastener material on each screen assembly, the at least onepiece of releasably cooperating fastener material configured andpositioned to releasably interconnect the screen assemblies, the methodfurther includes connecting the first screen assembly to the secondscreen assembly by bringing into connecting contact the at least onepiece of releasably cooperating fastener material on the first screenassembly with the at least one piece of releasably cooperating fastenermaterial on the second screen assembly; wherein the screen assemblyholding apparatus includes opposed channel members, each channel memberhaving an opening defined by parts of the channel member, the screenassemblies insertable into the openings; wherein the screen assemblyholding apparatus includes a support deck on which the screen assembliesare emplaceable and securement apparatus for securing the screenassemblies in place on the support deck, the method further includesemplacing the screen assemblies on the support deck, and securing thescreen assemblies in place with the securement apparatus; wherein thefirst screen assembly and the second screen assembly each haveinterconnection apparatus thereon for interconnecting the first screenassembly with the second screen assembly, the interconnection apparatusis at least one strap on the first screen assembly, the at least onestrap including releasably cooperating fastener material, and at leastone corresponding amount of releasably cooperating fastener material onthe second screen assembly, the method further includes connecting theat least one strap to the at least one corresponding amount ofreleasably cooperating fastener material to releasably connect the twoscreen assemblies together; wherein the interconnection apparatus is atleast one pin projecting from the first screen assembly and at least onecorresponding recess on the second screen assembly for releasablyholding the at least one pin, the method further includes inserting theat least one pin into the at least one corresponding recess toreleasably connect the screen assemblies together; wherein the at leastone pin is formed integrally of the first screen assembly; and/orwherein the interconnection apparatus is at least one clip, the at leastone clip configured for emplacement around a portion of each screenassembly, the method further includes connecting the two screenassemblies together with the at least one clip.

The present invention also provides a method for manipulating a firstscreen assembly and a second screen assembly with respect to a screenassembly holding apparatus of a vibratory separator into or onto whichthe screen assemblies are mountable, the method includes positioning atleast a portion of a first screen assembly with respect to screenassembly holding apparatus of a vibratory separator, connecting a secondscreen assembly to the first screen assembly, and moving the firstscreen assembly and the second screen assembly together with respect tothe screen assembly holding apparatus, wherein the first screen assemblyand the second screen assembly each have interconnection apparatusthereon for interconnecting the first screen assembly with the secondscreen assembly, wherein the interconnection apparatus includes at leastone lip on each screen assembly, the at least one lip configured andpositioned for engagement by a corresponding adjacent lip to releasablyinterconnect the screen assemblies, the method further includes engagingthe at least one lip on the first screen assembly with the at least onelip on the second screen assembly to releasably connect the screenassemblies together, wherein the at least one lip on the first screenassembly is two spaced-apart lips thereon and the at least one lip onthe second screen assembly is two corresponding spaced-apart lipsthereon, wherein the screen assembly holding apparatus has opposedchannel members, each channel member having an opening defined by partsof the channel member, the screen assemblies insertable into saidopenings.

The present invention provides, therefore in at least certain aspects orembodiments, a screen assembly for use in treating fluid in a vibratoryseparator, the screen assembly having screening material, a supportsupporting the screening material, interconnection apparatus on thesupport for releasably connecting the screen assembly to an adjacentscreen assembly. Such a screen assembly may have one or some (in anypossible combination) of the following: wherein the interconnectionapparatus has at least one lip projecting out from the support; at leastone seal member on the at least one lip; wherein the at least one lip istwo spaced-apart lips; wherein the two spaced-apart lips are ofsufficient length that a gap or no gap is present upon engagement ofsimilar lips of a similar adjacent screen assembly; the interconnectionapparatus has an amount of releasably cooperating fastener material;wherein the amount of releasably cooperating fastener material issufficiently large to cover an interface between the screen assembly andan adjacent screen assembly; the interconnection apparatus is at leastone pin projecting from the support for releasable receipt within acorresponding hole of an adjacent screen assembly.

The present invention provides, therefore in at least certain aspects orembodiments, a screen assembly with a screening material support with atleast one opening in the support for releasably receiving part of a tooluseful for moving the screen assembly.

In conclusion, therefore, it is seen that the present invention and theembodiments disclosed herein and those covered by the appended claimsare well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends setforth. Certain changes can be made in the subject matter withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of this invention. It isrealized that changes are possible within the scope of this inventionand it is further intended that each element or step recited in any ofthe following claims is to be understood as referring to all equivalentelements or steps. The following claims are intended to cover theinvention as broadly as legally possible in whatever form it may beutilized. Any patent or patent application referred to herein isincorporated fully herein for all purposes. The invention claimed hereinis new and novel in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 102 and satisfies theconditions for patentability in § 102. The invention claimed herein isnot obvious in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 103 and satisfies theconditions for patentability in § 103. This specification and the claimsthat follow are in accordance with all of the requirements of 35 U.S.C.§ 112. The inventors may rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents todetermine and assess the scope of their invention and of the claims thatfollow as they may pertain to apparatus not materially departing from,but outside of, the literal scope of the invention as set forth in thefollowing claims. All patents referred to herein are incorporated fullyherein for all purposes.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A method for manipulating a first screen assemblywith respect to a second screen assembly, the screen assemblies for usein a vibratory separator, the method comprising positioning at least aportion of a first screen assembly with respect to screen assemblyholding apparatus of a vibratory separator, releasably connecting with aclip a second screen assembly to the first screen assembly, and movingthe first screen assembly and the second screen assembly together withrespect to the screen assembly holding apparatus.
 22. The method ofclaim 21 wherein the first and second screen assemblies are insertableinto the screen assembly holding apparatus and the method furthercomprises moving the first screen assembly to insert the first screenassembly and to move at least part of the second screen assembly in thescreen assembly holding apparatus.
 23. The method of claim 22 furthercomprising moving the first screen assembly to remove both the firstscreen assembly and at least part of the second screen assembly from thescreen assembly holding apparatus.
 24. The method of claim 21 whereinthe vibratory separator is a shale shaker for processing drilling fluidwith solids entrained therein.
 25. The method of claim 21 wherein theclip has a body and a first portion projecting from the body forcontacting a portion of the first screen assembly and a second portionprojecting from the body for contacting a portion of the second screenassembly, the method further comprising installing the clip so that thefirst portion contacts a portion of the first screen assembly, and thesecond portion contacts a portion of the second screen assembly.
 26. Themethod of claim 25 wherein at least one pin projects from the firstscreen assembly and has at least one corresponding recess, the methodfurther comprising inserting the at least one pin into the at least onecorresponding recess to releasably connect the screen assembliestogether.
 27. The method of claim 26 wherein the at least one pin isformed integrally of the first screen assembly.
 28. The method of claim21 wherein the first screen assembly has a first tubular frame and thesecond screen assembly has a second tubular frame, the method furthercomprising installing the clip so that the clip contacts a portion ofthe first tubular frame and a portion of the second tubular frame. 29.The method of claim 21 wherein the first screen assembly includesscreening material thereon and the second screen assembly includesscreening material thereon.
 30. The method of claim 29 wherein thescreening material on each screen assembly comprises multiple layers ofscreening material.
 31. The method of claim 29 wherein the screeningmaterial is flat screening material.
 32. The method of claim 29 whereinthe screening material is undulating screening material.
 33. A methodfor manipulating a first screen assembly with respect to a second screenassembly, the screen assemblies for use in a vibratory separator, themethod comprising positioning at least a portion of a first screenassembly with respect to screen assembly holding apparatus of avibratory separator, releasably connecting with a clip a second screenassembly to the first screen assembly, moving the first screen assemblyand the second screen assembly together with respect to the screenassembly holding apparatus, wherein the vibratory separator is a shaleshaker for processing drilling fluid with solids entrained therein,wherein the clip has a body and a first portion projecting from the bodyfor releasably contacting a portion of the first screen assembly and asecond portion projecting from the body for releasably contacting aportion of the second screen assembly, the method further comprisinginstalling the clip so that the first portion contacts a portion of thefirst screen assembly, and the second portion contacts a portion of thesecond screen assembly.
 34. Two screen assemblies for use with avibratory separator, the two screen assemblies comprising a first screenassembly, a second screen assembly releasably connected with a clip tothe first screen assembly.
 35. The two screen assemblies of claim 34further comprising the clip having a body, a first projection projectingfrom the body, and a second projection projecting from the body, thefirst projection contacting a portion of the first screen assembly, andthe second projection contacting a portion of the second screenassembly.
 36. The two screen assemblies of claim 35 further comprisingthe first screen assembly having a tubular frame with screening materialthereon. the second screen assembly having a tubular frame withscreening material thereon, the portion of the first screen assemblycontacted by the first projection being part of the tubular frame of thefirst screen assembly, and the portion of the second screen assemblycontacted by the second projection being part of the tubular frame ofthe second screen